Sept. 4 (UPI) — New coach Brian Schottenheimer challenged the Dallas Cowboys to “play free” in the NFL season opener Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles, who are among the biggest betting favorites of Week 1.
Kickoff is 8:20 p.m. EDT at Lincoln Financial Field. The matchup of NFC East division foes will air on NBC. (The full slate of Week 1 NFL matchups is available below.)
“Every game we play is just another championship opportunity,” Schottenheimer told reporters. “We get a chance to go out there against the Eagles. You don’t get more extra credit for beating the Eagles in Philly in prime time than you do for beating the Giants at noon in AT&T Stadium.
“But what I don’t want these guys to do, and I think the coaches are a big part of this, is going in there and try [too] hard. They are going to mistakes if they do that. Play free. It’s football. Fly around. Love being around with your brothers. Run to the football. Celebrate. Have fun.
“It’s gonna be pretty consistent throughout the deal. We are guaranteed 17 of these. This is the first one of them. I think our guys will play well. But that’s going to be my message most weeks.”
The Cowboys-Eagles game will be the first of 16 Week 1 matchups, a slate that includes one game Friday, 13 on Sunday and a Monday Night Football Finale.
“We’ve got to let our habits take over in the game as coaches,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “We’ve gotta let our habits take over in the game as players. I feel really good about where we are right now.
“This will be a really good test against a really good opponent.”
The Eagles are 8.5-point favorites, according to some sports books, making the Cowboys the biggest underdogs of the weekend.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley, wide receiver A.J. Brown and the key players from the Eagles’ top-ranked defense from last season remain fixtures on their roster.
A new coaching staff, the departure of edge rusher Micah Parsons and addition of wide receiver George Pickens and defensive tackle Kenny Clark bring a refurbished look to the Cowboys.
The Eagles outscored the Cowboys 75-13 in their two-game sweep of the rivalry last season. Still, Hurts said the Eagles need to confirm a desired identity.
“We don’t know who we are right now,” Hurts said. “So, we just want to go in and have a really good week of preparation and go out there and try to establish what we want to be.”
Notable matchups
Another divisional clash will kick off Friday, when the Los Angeles Chargers take on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Sao Paulo. That AFC West matchup will start at 8 p.m. and air on YouTube.
Sunday’s slate features eight 1 p.m. matchups, two games at 4:05 p.m. and two games at 4:25 p.m.
Star quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals will battle All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns in one of the 1 p.m. matchups in Cleveland. Running back Bijan Robinson and the Atlanta Falcons will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the same time in Atlanta.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers will take on the New York Jets at 1 p.m. in East Rutherford, N.J. Quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Tennessee Titans will face the Denver Broncos at 4:05 p.m. in Denver.
Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson and the Detroit Lions go up against Parsons and the Green Bay Packers at 4:25 p.m. in Green Bay, Wis.
Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills will host Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in the nightcap at 8:20 p.m. in Orchard Park, N.Y. That matchup, which features the highest expected point total (50.5) of the week, will air on NBC.
Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears will host Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings in the first Monday Night Football matchup at 8:15 p.m. Monday in Chicago. That game between NFC North foes will air on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.
Week 1
All times EDT
Thursday
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles at 8:20 p.m. on NBC
Friday
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers on YouTube
Sunday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons at 1 p.m. on Fox
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns at 1 p.m. on Fox
Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts at 1 p.m. on CBS
Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars at 1 p.m. on Fox
Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots at 1 p.m. on CBS
Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saint sat 1 p.m. on CBS
Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets at 1 p.m. on CBS
New York Giants at Washington Commanders at 1 p.m. on Fox
Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos at 4:05 p.m. on Fox
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks at 4:05 p.m. on Fox
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers at 4:25 p.m. on CBS
Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams at 4:25 p.m. on CBS
Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills at 8:20 p.m. on NBC
Monday
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears at 8:15 p.m. on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2
